The Campus Theatre was designed as a 664-seat quonset hut cinema near Victoria College built in 1949. (It was never called the College Theatre.) It launched August 3, 1950 with “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.” The Campus Theatre closed on January 23, 1952 after a showing of “Steel Helmet.” It was then used as a church and, in 1957, became the Woodlawn Bowling Center.
Closed by Cinemark on May 10, 2001 when Cinemark launched its 12-screener. It closed as a discount house with What Men Want, The Mexican, Snatch, See Spot Run and Down to Earth
Cinemas 1-4 had 238 seats each and 5-6 had 136 for 1,224 seats at opening on May 20, 1977. Closed on May 10, 2001 when Cinemark launched its 12-screener.Demolished August 28, 2006 .
May 20, 1977 launch with “Silver Streak” (on two screens), “The Gumball Rally”, “Twilight’s Last Gleaming”, “Forever Young, Forever Free”, and “The Ritz”.
The theatre launched Feb. 2, 1940 with “Geronimo.” It converted to widescreen for CinemaScope in 1954. It burned down on September 19, 1975 with the last film of “Capone” when an air conditioning repair went wrong.
The Grand Theatre launched March 2, 1908. It was architected by Frederick G. Mueller. In 1921, it was renamed Regent Theatre likely on a 10-year lease. It closed in 1931 but re-opened as the Playhouse in April of 1931. The venue had live events and plays for a short time before closing for good. In 1932, the space was retrofitted for Miller Bros. Paint & Wallpaper store.
The Eden Theatre launched in 1889 at 162 Market Street. It closed on May 19, 1900 getting new owners. The Katz Building venue became the home of the original Empire Theatre until 1905. The Empire moved to a new location.
The original location of the Empire Theatre was in the Eden Theatre which, itself had launched in 1889. It became the Empire Theatre with new operators in 1900. The venue was so popular that it moved.
In this location, the New Empire Theatre opened October 30, 1905 with live vaudeville and some short Kineographs. Becoming the Empire Theatre, it was closed to completely update the venue to the plans of architect Henry Barrett under new owner William Fox. It relaunched as a 1,500 seat house called Fox’s American Theatre and was designed for motion pictures, It opened on April 27, 1919 with Tom Mix in “Well Roarin' Reform” and Viola Dana in “False Evidence.” A front page story explained that the theatre closed October 30, 1927 due to a dispute with the Musician’s union.
The Paterson Opera House launched April 2, 1866. A 1900 fire caused most of the venue to be extensively rebuilt relaunching in 1901. Another fire in 1914 caused more remodeling and led to a name change. The opera house became the U.S. Photoplay Theatre on March 6, 1916 with the film, “The Battle Cry of Peace.” The theatre converted to sound and finally, under the Stanley Warner Circuit, the theatre closed in 1967. It was sold in 1969 and was razed for a parking lot.
The Hyway Theatre launched on July 1, 1942 with the film, “In This Our Life” and “Two Yanks in Trinidad.” It closed in February of 2009 with “Coraline.”
The theatre was built in 1920 for around $50,000 and opened February 1, 1921. It closed on April 22, 1950 at the end of a 30-year lease with a double-feature of “Renegades” and “Desperadoes.” The theatre’s space in the Capitol Building was repurposed for other retail operations.
This venue launched as the Pleasant Hour Theatre in 1907 in a contest won by motorman William Woolworth. The name was changed to the Lyric Theatre in 1911. The Lyric closed with “Barriers Burned Away” on March 21, 1925 at end of lease. The theatre space was converted to two retail shops. A front page story in the newspaper reported on the closing and history of the theatre.
Located at 304 Main Street, the Rio Theatre was once part of the Long Theaters Circuit. Ads ceas after the Feb. 3, 1964 screenings but the theatre could well have soldiered on. However, it has since been demolished.
Seating 400, the Lee Theatre launched on Main Street in 1947 across the street from the Star Theatre. The circuit operating the Star, Long Theaters, bought the Lee Theatre in 1948.
The Texas burned down on May 13, 1953 with its remains demolished. It was replaced by the El Rancho Theatre on March 17, 1954 also by the Long Theaters Circuit.
The Queen Theatre launched in 1929 by Russell Williams and Joe Deutsch. Under the Johnny G. Long Circuit in 1941, the Queen got a new streamlined look and new name becoming the Hollywood. It closed briefly in 1945 years because so many GIs left the area for the War effort. The Hollywood reopened after the War.
The Gold Coast Twin launched December 21, 1986. It had two THX-certified auditoriums seating 211 and 205 patrons showing first-run titles. It set a standard followed by many off-Strip hotels which would feature larger multiplexes in the future.
For those in the know, a free shuttle operated taking tourists from the strip to the Gold Coast Casino and cinema. That perk went out of favor when UA opened its Showcase 8 on the Strip. The theatre tried discount operation and, finally, art house fare closing on April 9, 2000. Patrons were given pretty much anything they wanted as the theatre began the boxing up process during the final showings.
The Ray Amusement Company established in 1916 in downtown Passaic at 37 Lexington Avenue and launched the Rialto there on January 13, 1917 likely on a 20-year lease. In November of 1929, both the Palace and the Rialto converted to Western Electric sound to play talkies.
Harry Hecht shut down the Rialto in March of 1938 for a refresh to the plans of architect Eugene DeRosa that included new air cooling system, a more modern look, new floors, lobby, signage, and box office. The theatre re-emrged as the Lincoln Theatre on a new 20-year lease. Pictures are in the Photos section.
The Lincoln Theatre shut down in 1958 at end of lease and, after another refresh, relaunched as the Fine Arts Theatre on May 29, 1958 showing art films. In 1960, art films were paired with adult films with the theatre running more adult films by year’s end and to its end of operation. The theatre suffered a minor fire in 1964 but continued operation. During its run, the film switched to adult films running to January 12, 1970 when it appears to have closed with “Lady Godiva Rides Again” and “The Girls” (1968) running under the name, “Lysistrata.”
Here’s a 1919 ad for the Pleasant Hour Theatre in Passaic, a silent era theater that opened as The Pleasant Hour Theatre and closed as the Pleasant Hour Theatre.
The Campus Theatre was designed as a 664-seat quonset hut cinema near Victoria College built in 1949. (It was never called the College Theatre.) It launched August 3, 1950 with “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.” The Campus Theatre closed on January 23, 1952 after a showing of “Steel Helmet.” It was then used as a church and, in 1957, became the Woodlawn Bowling Center.
Still open – https://www.facebook.com/twindolphinstheater/ It opened on January 24, 1973.
Closed by Cinemark on May 10, 2001 when Cinemark launched its 12-screener. It closed as a discount house with What Men Want, The Mexican, Snatch, See Spot Run and Down to Earth
Cinemas 1-4 had 238 seats each and 5-6 had 136 for 1,224 seats at opening on May 20, 1977. Closed on May 10, 2001 when Cinemark launched its 12-screener.Demolished August 28, 2006 .
August 28, 2006 – demolition
May 20, 1977 launch with “Silver Streak” (on two screens), “The Gumball Rally”, “Twilight’s Last Gleaming”, “Forever Young, Forever Free”, and “The Ritz”.
The theatre launched Feb. 2, 1940 with “Geronimo.” It converted to widescreen for CinemaScope in 1954. It burned down on September 19, 1975 with the last film of “Capone” when an air conditioning repair went wrong.
Victoria residents apparently love CinemaScope – here’s a 1954 letter-ad by the El Rancho Theatre management.
The Grand Theatre launched March 2, 1908. It was architected by Frederick G. Mueller. In 1921, it was renamed Regent Theatre likely on a 10-year lease. It closed in 1931 but re-opened as the Playhouse in April of 1931. The venue had live events and plays for a short time before closing for good. In 1932, the space was retrofitted for Miller Bros. Paint & Wallpaper store.
The Eden Theatre launched in 1889 at 162 Market Street. It closed on May 19, 1900 getting new owners. The Katz Building venue became the home of the original Empire Theatre until 1905. The Empire moved to a new location.
The original location of the Empire Theatre was in the Eden Theatre which, itself had launched in 1889. It became the Empire Theatre with new operators in 1900. The venue was so popular that it moved.
In this location, the New Empire Theatre opened October 30, 1905 with live vaudeville and some short Kineographs. Becoming the Empire Theatre, it was closed to completely update the venue to the plans of architect Henry Barrett under new owner William Fox. It relaunched as a 1,500 seat house called Fox’s American Theatre and was designed for motion pictures, It opened on April 27, 1919 with Tom Mix in “Well Roarin' Reform” and Viola Dana in “False Evidence.” A front page story explained that the theatre closed October 30, 1927 due to a dispute with the Musician’s union.
The Paterson Opera House launched April 2, 1866. A 1900 fire caused most of the venue to be extensively rebuilt relaunching in 1901. Another fire in 1914 caused more remodeling and led to a name change. The opera house became the U.S. Photoplay Theatre on March 6, 1916 with the film, “The Battle Cry of Peace.” The theatre converted to sound and finally, under the Stanley Warner Circuit, the theatre closed in 1967. It was sold in 1969 and was razed for a parking lot.
The Hyway Theatre launched on July 1, 1942 with the film, “In This Our Life” and “Two Yanks in Trinidad.” It closed in February of 2009 with “Coraline.”
The theatre was built in 1920 for around $50,000 and opened February 1, 1921. It closed on April 22, 1950 at the end of a 30-year lease with a double-feature of “Renegades” and “Desperadoes.” The theatre’s space in the Capitol Building was repurposed for other retail operations.
This venue launched as the Pleasant Hour Theatre in 1907 in a contest won by motorman William Woolworth. The name was changed to the Lyric Theatre in 1911. The Lyric closed with “Barriers Burned Away” on March 21, 1925 at end of lease. The theatre space was converted to two retail shops. A front page story in the newspaper reported on the closing and history of the theatre.
Located at 304 Main Street, the Rio Theatre was once part of the Long Theaters Circuit. Ads ceas after the Feb. 3, 1964 screenings but the theatre could well have soldiered on. However, it has since been demolished.
Seating 400, the Lee Theatre launched on Main Street in 1947 across the street from the Star Theatre. The circuit operating the Star, Long Theaters, bought the Lee Theatre in 1948.
The Texas burned down on May 13, 1953 with its remains demolished. It was replaced by the El Rancho Theatre on March 17, 1954 also by the Long Theaters Circuit.
119 West Mulberry was the address of the theatre. It has been demolished and replaced by a parking lot for a neighboring bank.
This one is closer to Angleton TX – my bad
The Queen Theatre launched in 1929 by Russell Williams and Joe Deutsch. Under the Johnny G. Long Circuit in 1941, the Queen got a new streamlined look and new name becoming the Hollywood. It closed briefly in 1945 years because so many GIs left the area for the War effort. The Hollywood reopened after the War.
Also known as the Passaic Theatre
The Gold Coast Twin launched December 21, 1986. It had two THX-certified auditoriums seating 211 and 205 patrons showing first-run titles. It set a standard followed by many off-Strip hotels which would feature larger multiplexes in the future.
For those in the know, a free shuttle operated taking tourists from the strip to the Gold Coast Casino and cinema. That perk went out of favor when UA opened its Showcase 8 on the Strip. The theatre tried discount operation and, finally, art house fare closing on April 9, 2000. Patrons were given pretty much anything they wanted as the theatre began the boxing up process during the final showings.
The Ray Amusement Company established in 1916 in downtown Passaic at 37 Lexington Avenue and launched the Rialto there on January 13, 1917 likely on a 20-year lease. In November of 1929, both the Palace and the Rialto converted to Western Electric sound to play talkies.
Harry Hecht shut down the Rialto in March of 1938 for a refresh to the plans of architect Eugene DeRosa that included new air cooling system, a more modern look, new floors, lobby, signage, and box office. The theatre re-emrged as the Lincoln Theatre on a new 20-year lease. Pictures are in the Photos section.
The Lincoln Theatre shut down in 1958 at end of lease and, after another refresh, relaunched as the Fine Arts Theatre on May 29, 1958 showing art films. In 1960, art films were paired with adult films with the theatre running more adult films by year’s end and to its end of operation. The theatre suffered a minor fire in 1964 but continued operation. During its run, the film switched to adult films running to January 12, 1970 when it appears to have closed with “Lady Godiva Rides Again” and “The Girls” (1968) running under the name, “Lysistrata.”
Here’s a 1919 ad for the Pleasant Hour Theatre in Passaic, a silent era theater that opened as The Pleasant Hour Theatre and closed as the Pleasant Hour Theatre.